Palmerton Borough plans to hold the line on property taxes in 2019, according to the first reading of an ordinance approved Thursday night.

The general purposes tax rate is set at 8.78 mills, with the recreation purposes rate set at 0.74 mills and the debt reduction purposes rate set for 2.25 mills.

A final vote on those rates is scheduled for December.

Other 2019 rates proposed at Thursday’s meeting include the $10 per capita tax, 1 percent earned income tax, 1 percent real estate transfer tax, $52 local services tax, and mechanical devices tax. The borough has held the line on taxes for the last several years.

Also on Thursday, the borough approved a resolution supporting the Palmerton Fire Department’s application for funding for safety equipment to establish a carcinogen awareness and reduction program for its members.

According to data from the International Association of Firefighters, cancer caused 61 percent of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from 2012-16.

The local share funding sought totals $251,844. According to the resolution, the money would be used to establish proactive measures toward protecting firefighters from the exposures presented during responses.

Palmerton has also tabbed an auditing firm, which will review its 2018 financial accounts. Council appointed Kirk, Summa and Co. to do the work. In its application letter to the borough, the firm agreed its gross fees, including expenses, would not exceed $10,800.